Rutte sees things bleakly; will the hospitality industry remain closed for the time being?!
I remember it as if it were yesterday: my last lunch before the very first closure of the hospitality industry at the beginning of March last year. That was almost a year ago now. A year! Yes, in the meantime, the hospitality industry was open for a little while, but that feels — and is — a long time ago again. Is there hope after 2 March? Rutte sees things bleakly…
The hospitality industry has been closed again since 14 October 2020. 14 October! So that was already 4 months ago! In large parts of Italy, the hospitality industry has been open again for quite some time. Oh, how I would love to sit there right now! Over a steaming plate of pasta, with a glass of wine… Will we be able to go to our favorite restaurants again soon?
Not really hopeful
I’m holding my breath, because Rutte sees little room for easing restrictions after the current lockdown ends on 2 March. ‘It doesn’t look hopeful’, he said yesterday (Thursday 18 February) in the House of Representatives. In the coming days, numerous discussions will still take place involving the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), the Security Council of mayors and the cabinet, followed by a press conference on Tuesday 23 February. Whether the outcome will be positive… Hope springs eternal, but I fear the worst.
I’ve also stopped trying to understand it. I know how many safety measures the hospitality industry has taken time and again, how investments have been made in maintaining a distance of one and a half metres, cough screens and other creative solutions — and when I walk around a crowded supermarket or see people sitting on an aeroplane, my hospitality heart weeps.
Until then: takeaway
As sad and maddening as it is, you can continue to support the hospitality industry in the meantime with takeaway and delivery. Need inspiration? Take a look at our delivery reviews. From spare ribs and soups to complete rijsttafel feasts and Michelin-star meal boxes; there’s plenty to choose from!
Also read:
- How corona turned me into a booze barge
- Drinks snacks during corona: make your own cheese sticks
- Why McDonald’s is going like a rocket despite corona
Image: Restaurant Tozi in Amsterdam
